The following Spiritual Life Coaching exercises, if practiced regularly, can help you to become conscious of your ego, create a space between your egoic mind and your pure consciousness, and begin your path toward self transcendence:
When you find yourself desiring material things, consider it. Then ask yourself, "Do I really need this? Or do I want this because it bolsters my ego?" If the answer is the latter, then let the desire go.
When you find your inner dialogue comparing or contrasting another to your status in life, stop. Be still. Observe what your ego is doing. Become a silent observer. Don't resist, just watch. Understand that this is your ego's need to feel either superior or inferior to others and nothing more. At the highest level, everyone is equal. No one is better or worse than you in any way.
When your inner dialogue says negative things to you such as, "I'm not smart enough, good enough, or talented enough to do this or that," or, "It's the story of my life," or, "It's always something," stop. Be still and observe the ego silently from a detached, higher perspective. Understand that this negative reinforcement is creating your bleak reality and the reason that the problems keep repeating is because of this inner dialogue.
When you find yourself obsessing over a negative perception of your body such as your weight or appearance, stop. Be still. Observe these thoughts from a detached perspective. Realize that these obsessive thoughts are keeping you stuck in a state of dissatisfaction and that your ego warps reality into a false self-perception. Your reality is constantly being created by this negative identification.
The next time someone tries to provoke you and initiate an argument, stop. Be quiet. Don't contribute to their emotional violence. Realize that the reason for their provocation is because their ego needs to feel superior to you. Act from the level of the heart and see through the veil. By not reacting to their pain-body's need to push your buttons, you've already won. This is the power of ego transcendence.
When negative thoughts about another arises, do not linger in judgment. Remain still and centered in your heart. Then ask yourself: "Have I not displayed this same behavior at some time prior?"
Stop thinking about another when you first meet them. By taking egoic thoughts out of the equation, you allow a space of non-judgment and acceptance between you and your new acquaintance. Withhold the projecting of your past experiences with others on to your new experiences with others. Begin every new experience in a pure place of non-thinking, peaceful presence. That's called unconditional love.
Realize that events alone are not enough to disturb people but rather their reaction to the events. When you find your mind in a state of discord, conflict, anger, or frustration, never hold anyone or anything but your own judgment accountable. An unconscious person always blames the other for his or her own problems. To blame oneself is only the beginning of enlightenment. The master blames neither the Self nor the other.
